Health professional shortages can exist in all three of these categories:

A Primary Health Care HPSA acknowledges the physician shortage in a service area.The physician shortage is calculated from pediatrics, ob/gyn, general internal medicine, and family practice physicians only.

A Dental Health Care HPSA acknowledges the shortage of dentists in a service area.The dental shortage is calculated from general dentists only; however, age and auxiliary assistance are also factors.

A Mental Health Care HPSA acknowledges the shortage of psychiatrists and core mental health professionals in a service area.The psychiatric shortage is calculated from ratios of population to mental health providers.

HPSA Types

Each HPSA category has 4 types:

1. Geographic HPSA: A Geographic HPSA is for a region that is determined to be a sound Rational Service Area (RSA). It can be a portion of a city or a county, or it can be an entire county. It is based on primary care hours for general population.

2. Low-Income Population HPSA: A Low-Income Population HPSA is for a region that is determined to be a sound Rational Service Area focusing on only that population living below the 200% Federal Poverty Level. The shortage of primary care physicians is based on the time spent serving this population.

3. Specialty Population HPSA: A Specialty Population HPSA is for a region that is determined to be a sound Rational Service Area focusing on only that population which may fall into one of the following populations: Medicaid populations below the 100% Federal Poverty Level; ethnicity; homeless; migrant farm workers.

4. Facility HPSA: A Facility HPSA is for any of the following facilities: State and Federal Prisons, correctional facilities, community health centers, rural health clinics, and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC).

HPSA Benefits

Medicare Bonus

When an area is designated as a Geographic HPSA all physicians working in the HPSA are eligible for the additional 10% Medicare payment. From primary care physicians and specialists to optometrists, chiropractors, podiatrists, and even medical tele-consultants, they are all eligible for the incentive payment for practicing in the Geographic HPSA. Although the HPSA project is based on the study of Primary Care, all disciplines benefit. As of January 2011, all primary care physicians and surgeons working in a Geographic HPSA are now eligible for a 20% Medicare bonus payment.

Loan Forgiveness

The goal of the National Health Services Corps (NHSC) is to expand access to health care services and improve the overall health of individuals living in medically underserved areas across the U.S.Through the active recruitment of primary care, dental, and mental health providers, the NHSC is able to place these physicians within the service areas with the highest needs.In exchange for two years of service in a site approved by the NHSC, education loan relief is made available for medical service providers. These placements are based on Health Professional Shortage Area designations.

Visa Waiver

A J-1 visa, also called an "exchange visitor visa," is a visa used by foreign nationals who come to the US for the purpose of teaching, training, studying, research, and so on. Foreign nationals are required to physically return to their home country or the country of last residence for at least two years before they are eligible to apply for any other non-immigrant visa or Lawful Permanent Residence. In exchange for working in an underserved area, a visa waiver will remove the requirement for the foreign physician to return home for two years. The H-1B petition allows an employer to temporarily employ a foreigner in the U.S. on a non-immigrant basis in various specialty occupations. The H-1B petition authorizes the employee to work for a limited period of time for the specific employer, in the specific position outlined in the petition. More information may be found at the United States Department of Labor website.

Locate a HPSA

The link below will take you to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Service Administration website, where you can search by state, county, and type of HPSA designation. While on the site, be sure to also see which HPSAs are eligible for the Medicare Bonus by using the link on the left of the page titled 'HPSA Eligible for the Medicare Physician Bonus Payment.' Refer to the glossary below to help you better understand the information you will find at the federal HPSA site. Click on the following link:

If you still cannot determine whether you are in a HPSA designation you most likely are not located in a full county, city, or facility HPSA. You will need to look up your 'county subdivision' and 'census tract.' Click on the following U.S. Census Bureau link and enter your practice location; this is called 'geocoding' your site.

Look for your County Civil Division (CCD), Minor Civil Division (MCD) and/or Census Tract (C.T.). Do you see one of them listed as being designated? If you do, you are located in a HPSA.

If you still cannot determine whether you are in a HPSA, please contact us to validate your designation. We will geocode your site, send you a site validation of designation, and create a HPSA map of your county and surrounding counties for $50.00. If you have multiple queries please see our fee structure below.